SSHS junior Genna Bradley strives for college scholarship

Steamboat Springs  When Steamboat Springs High School junior Genna Bradley started diving her freshman year, winning a state title was classified under her "wildest dreams."

But now, Bradley has even bigger things on her mind for her senior year. Bradley still wants to win a state title in the fall, but her main objective is to get a Division I scholarship.

"Winning state this year would just be a step for me," Bradley said.

She certainly is taking the necessary steps to do both. Along with coach Dave Fix, Bradley will attend a two-week diving camp starting June 6 at the University of Indiana. Indiana coach Jeff Huber, often regarded as the foremost diving coach in the country, runs the camp.

Huber is a seven-time U.S. National Coach of the Year and 13-time Big 10 Coach of the Year. He has coached the U.S. at the past three Olympic games.

The camp is essentially an invite-only camp. Coaches from Indiana told Fix that Bradley is at the level that warrants her coming to the camp.

"I'm really hoping to learn new dives that take me to the next level of diving," Bradley said. "I really want to step it up this year."

Whereas in past years Bradley was immersed in multiple extracurricular activities, Bradley said she plans to focus on diving this summer and fall.

Last season, Bradley finished sixth at the state diving championships. With all five finishers ahead of her graduated, Bradley should be the favorite coming into next season.

"I think we both have a goal this year and that's win state," Fix said. "We want to get to that level, and there are a few dives and techniques she needs to learn. We're hoping to get new dives for state to help us win. We want to open her eyes to the type of competition that is out there in the nation instead of just Colorado."

Fix will attend the camp for five days. He's always looking for new coaching techniques and said the camp should allow him to learn techniques to teach beginners and advanced divers.

"I'm super excited and privileged to go down there," Fix said. "I hope to come back with more and better skills to train more Steamboat and Craig kids. I want to get more kids involved."

Fix will run a diving camp this summer. Although he wasn't sure about the dates, anyone interested can contact him at 846-2039.